April 25, 2012 6:37pm EDTApril 25, 2012 11:44am EDTWhether it's in Orlando or elsewhere, Dwight Howard should be ready to play next season.

Staff report

Published on Apr. 25, 2012

Apr. 25, 2012

Dwight Howard, who had surgery last Friday to repair a herniated disc in his back, is improving and should be ready to play next season, his surgeon, Robert Watkins Sr., said in a statement.

Whether that’s in Orlando or somewhere else remains to be seen, as ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith reported recently that Howard will demand a trade once the season is over.

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"I examined Dwight Howard on Saturday, April 21, 2012 and he showed significant improvement from his preoperative condition that necessitated mandatory spine surgery," Watkins said in the statement. "He was discharged from Marina Del Rey Hospital on Saturday afternoon and will be reexamined this week. I have advised Dwight not to travel and to undergo rehabilitation treatment for the next three weeks in Los Angeles. He has agreed with my recommendation. While it is anticipated that Dwight will not be able to participate in the Olympics, I am very optimistic that he will be able to play next season.”

Howard will spend the next three weeks or so in the Los Angeles area for rehabilitation and to be able to visit Watkins for check-ups, meaning he will not attend Magic playoff games, the Orlando Sentinel reports. That does not indicate, however, that he wants out of Orlando, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy suggested.

“Originally, his plan was, because he wanted to be around, is to go back and forth (from L.A. to the sites of the Magic playoff games), but those are long flights back and forth, not particularly good for your back to begin with,” Van Gundy said, according to the Sentinel.

Magic GM Otis Smith has said Howard, who is under contract with Orlando through next season, has not yet asked for a trade.

The Magic have injury concerns beyond Howard as they head into the postseason. Hedo Turkoglu, who’s been out since April 5 with a fractured cheekbone, hopes he can return for the playoffs but doubts how effective he can be, the Sentinel notes. Point guard Jameer Nelson, meanwhile, is not concerned that the left calf bruise he sustained in the game in Denver Sunday night will linger.

"I'm just trying to get myself into good shape, as much as I can, and hopefully I'll be able to come back and be ready to play," Turkoglu said, per the Sentinel. "I don't know how ready I will be, but I'm pushing myself to be ready as much as I can. And if I get the opportunity, I will try to go out there and do my best that I can and help the team."

Added Van Gundy, “At best, he gets cleared to play to start the playoffs with no games and no practice before then."

Nelson said there’s “no timetable” for him to return. "We'll just take it day by day and continue to treat it and try to get back out there as soon as possible,” he said.

Even if Turkoglu and Nelson are at full strength, it’s doubtful that the Magic, without Howard, can make a deep run in the playoffs—or even get by their first-round opponent, most likely the Pacers.

According to stats cited by the Sentinel, Magic opponents shot 43.5 percent in the 54 games Howard played this season, and 50.5 percent in the ten games without him. They are 33-21 with Howard in the lineup, and 3-7 without him.

"I don't know what the answer is," Van Gundy said after the Magic’s 101-74 loss to Denver on Sunday. "But we simply can't guard anyone."